The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-04
MARRYING FOR MONEY.
Some Common-Sense Views on an EveI
Interesting Gubiect

love, this paper is not written. They
are what ehey are. They do not reason
and can not be reasoned with. Their
passion is blind force which attracts
them together as Saturn's moons are
attracted to Saturday an occult and
invisible compulsion which can neither
be seen, nor felt, nor tasted, nor de-
scribed. They are a theme for poets
and dreamers, and not for common,
sensible, workaday people like the
writer and reader Have done with
Them.
But there are people who get married
as they join the church, or choose a
vocation, or enter upon hazardous
undertaking. They look around them
and examine into the condition of holy
wedlock as it is among their acquaint-
qnces, friends and kinsfolk. Having
''cut their eye teeth" they brush the
bloom from the cheek of the peach be-
lore they eat it. because they know the
bloom is bitter. For good people of
this strain a profitable word may be
said about marrying for money.
l have often thought that the circum-
stances under which man or q woman.
might justifiably marry for money,
could be readily tabulated. If, for in,
stance, there should be rich man who,
lad no moral or physical defect to.
make an alliance with him repulsive,
mis- wealth would be proper induce
ment to any woman of the following
list to whom he might offer his hand:
A woman older than himself and de-
pendent.
A widow with children to care for.
A widow with no one to care for her.
An invalid maid or matron.
An accomplished poor girl.
A beauty.
An equal in wealth and position.
SO, also, throwing love out of the
question, but insisting upon regard,
respect and good character, a rich
young woman might properly marry
A man of equal or larger fortune.
A poor man of talent.
A clever artist, or mechanic, or
farmer. or preacher, or soldier.
Any man the weight of whose intel
ligence, or capacity of one sort or
another, would be balance for the
weight of dollars brought him by his
wife.
Throwing; out of consideration the
physical conditions which are neces-
sary under all circumstances of the
married state, if money be an induce
ment the man who marries for money
should be able to bring some set-otf to
make the match an even one. 1t is the
more necessary for the reason that the
man is the proposing party. That
married woman would be an angel, in
deed who, having put her fat purse into
the hand of poor husband, would not
upon some of the emergent occasions of
married life taunt him with ''the odd
shilling
On the contrary. the rich husband
who marries wife of slender fortune
is his own chooser. However much he
may rue his bargain he can not re-
proach his helpmate for self-imposed
conditions. Having made his bed he
must lie in it, If his wife be accom-
plished or beautiful she may fairly
claim that the dowry she brings her
husband is something better than gold
can buy.
Marrying for money in some cases is
altogether advisable, if the opportunity
offer. 1t is not merely sordid view of
the married relation to take care at the
outstart of assured bread and butter.
There may, indeed be some doubt of
the propriety of bringing a brood of
children into the world for the world
to care for The philosophy of Tenny-
sons Yorkshire farmer in his advice to
his son Sammy:
Doant thou marry for mummy,
But goa wheer mummy is
is full of the wisdom of this world. We
advise as many of the Tommys and
Susans as possible not to marry for
money, but to 60 where money is and
take the chances. If money can be
found in the hands of II fairly good
man, or tolerable girl, or beaming
and buxom widow, and the encum-
brances be not greater than the induce
ments, manageable bodies should not
let an opportunity that offers slip from
their grasp. Money not only makes
the n,..re go; it buys oats for the mare
so that she can go. |
Sentimentalists who are disposed to
find fault with these worldly-wise words
may rest their criticism. Lovers who
have from time immemorial rushed
blindly into matrimony, regardless of
the fact that love and squalid poverty
are incompatible, will continue to rush.
The more far-sceing and better bal
anced ones will weigh the pros and
cons and marry according to their judg-
ment if they marry at all, and no man
or woman will marry for money because
of our advice-unless they get the
chance. Nevertheless, 'goain wheer
mummy isl is not the greatest vice for
which modern society is accountable.
Philadelphia Record
"A scientific novelty is lens which
magnifcs, yet is perfectly fiat on both
sides. 1t is made athena by the manu-